From Isaac Job, Uyo
Traders Union in Akwa Ibom under the led by Senior Special Assistant to governor Umo Eno on Market Matters, Akparawa Idorenyin Raphael has disbanded illegal market unions in the State to reduce the sufferings of consumers .
The Association’s monitoring team disbanded illegal unions at Urua Akpan Andem and Urua Mbakara in Uyo abd other markets in Ikot Ekpene council area respectively.
Speaking at Urua Akpan Andem,the governor’s Aide Akparawa Idorenyin Raphael ordered that no trader should be forced to belong to any market union as such forceful membership is punishable by law.
“The leadership of Akwa Ibom State Traders had agreed that no one should be forced to be part of any union.
“This is because Pastor Umo Eno has seen that things are difficult already for anyone to be forced to join any group.
“Last month an order was passed by the leadership of Akwa Ibom State Traders that unions should not force traders to be part of them adding it should voluntary”
He said the team was in the market to reinforce the order adding that no trader should be bullied for selling his goods at affordable prices to consumers .
“Everyone has the right to sell their products in the market any day they choose to without restrictions, Sharing of days for traders to sell in the market should be discontinued.
“There are no more regulated market days. Anyone has the right to bring anything to the market to sell. Bring your wares and come to the market any day you like.
“Nobody should stop you from selling any day you want to. Sellers are permitted to report such persons to the the market president or the nearest police station.”
Market unions have constituted themselves into a regulatory body regulating how foodstuffs should be sold in the market.
The situation deteriorated to a point where traders share days to sell in the market causing artificial scarcity and high cost of foodstuffs in the state .
Last month, governor Umo Eno intervened and disbanded the market unions as it posed serious threat to government policy on food sufficiency.